Mosaic Analysis of Precursors of Nerve, Bone and Vasculature in Caudal Body and Fin of Zebrafish

This project focuses on the specific developmental origin and formation of pre-osteoblasts, vascular cells and sensory neurons in the caudal region and tail of zebrafish. Our objective is to generate genetically marked clones using transposon microinjections and to analyze fluorescent protein markers in deep body and tail cell populations. If clones are shared between the fin and deep body it is suggestive that these cells share a common progenitor cell. Zebrafish fins can serve as a model for human organogenesis because conserved genes and cell types are found in human limbs